Motive unit for toy wheeled vehicles



April 17, 1956 c. G. ERICKSON MOTIVE UNIT FOR TOY WHEELED VEHICLES IN VEIY TOR. %6 zc4am Filed Nov. 13 1951 ATTORNEY.

April 7, 1956 c. G. ERICKSON 2,741,873

MOTIVE UNIT FOR TOY WHEELED VEHICLES Filed Nov. 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR."

ATTORNEY United States Patent MOTIVE UNIT FOR TOY WHEELED VEHICLES Clifford G. Erickson, Chicago, Ell. Application November 13, 1951, Serial No. 256,080 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-406) This invention relates to a motive unit for wheeled vehicles and more particularly to a motive unit for toy cars and the like.

Toy vehicles have heretofore been made either of the free wheeling type to be pushed freely by a child or of a type equipped with a driving unit to make the vehicle more or less self-propelled. One type of driving unit very commonly employed is a Spring motor wound with a key. The principal difficulties with units of this type are their cost and the fact that a small child is not able to wind them. Also the motors tend to break relatively easily and when broken interfere with use of the toys as free wheeling types.

Another type of driving unit commonly employed is an inertia motor in which a flywheel .is started by pushing the vehicle and continues to drive the vehicle for a short period when it is released. These units are also very difiicult for a small child to operate, are relatively expensive, and interfere with use of the toy as a free wheeling type when broken.

Drive units have also been proposed using rubber bands which are twisted or otherwise tensioned to drive the vehicle. Rubber tends to harden and lose its elasticity with age and for this reason rubber band drives are undesirable. Rubber bands also become bro-ken relatively easily.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a motive unit for a toy vehicle which can be operated easily even by very small children, which is very inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, which is rugged and reliable in use and which will not interfere with operation of the vehicle as a free wheeling toy when broken.

Another object is to provide a motive unit which is energized by turning the vehicle wheel backward a small amount.

Still another object is to provide a motive unit in which a spring driving motor is connected to the wheels of the vehicle through a one way drive mechanism.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle equipped with a motive unit embodying the invention;

According to one feature of the invention the spring unit is an elongated tension spring which is wound around wards.

According to another feature the one-way drive mechanism is formed by a pair of ratchet members, one of which is connected to the axle and the other of which is slidable and rotatable on the axle and is connected to the spring motor in such a manner as to be urged toward the first driving member.

A further object is to provide a motive unit in which tensioning of the spring is positively limited so that it can not be damaged.

A still further object is toprovide a motive unit by which the vehicle can be driven either forward or back ward as desired.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 2 is a top planview of a vehicle frame;

Figure 3 is asection on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the parts during winding;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modifled spring;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternative one-way drive mechanism;

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of Fig ure 6;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 of an alternative construction;

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the construction of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 2 of still another construction;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of a vehicle with a reversing type drive;

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-42 of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a vertical longitudinal section showing still another type of spring.

It will be understood that the drive unit of the invention can be applied to toy vehicles of any desired type whether entirely of metal, entirely of plastic, or partially of metal and partially of plastic. The type of vehicle selected for illustration includes a metal base 10 on which a plastic body indicated by dotted lines 11 is mounted but it will be understood that this is purely illustrative and does not limit the type of vehicle with which the invention can be used.

In the vehicle shown the metal base 10 is formed with openings through which front wheels 12 extend at the front of the base and rear wheels 13 extend at the rear of the base. The front wheels are rigidly mounted on an axle 14 which is journaled at its ends in side flanges 15 on the base and the rear Wheels are similarly rigidly connected to an axle 16 which is journaled at its ends inside flanges 17 on the base. In this way the vehicle is supported on the wheels to be pushed freely over a floor or other surface.

In the form illustrated the rear wheels only are to be driven through the motive unit, although it will be apparent that the front wheels could be driven equally well and that if desired both the front and rear Wheels could be driven. To drive the rear wheels in the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 a ratchet member 18 is rigidly connected to the rear axle 17 and is formed at one end with axially projecting ratchet teeth. The ratchet member 18 may conveniently be molded of plastic although it could be made of metal if desired. It is rigidly secured to the axle 17 by pressing it onto a roughend or fluted portion of the axle, by cementing or any other desired manner.

A second ratchet member 19 which is substantially.

identical with the ratchet member 18 is mounted on the axle for free rotation and for free axial sliding thereon. This ratchet member may also conveniently be molded of plastic or may be formed in any other desired manner and is provided at one end with axially facing ratchet teeth complementary to the teeth on the ratchet member 18. As shown these teeth are so shaped that they will engage to connect the ratchet member 19 to the axle when the wheels tend to turn in the reverse direction and will disengage each other to cam the ratchet member 19 away from the member 18 when the wheels are turning forward.

The ratchet member 19 is connected to a spring unit which is shown as comprising an elongated resilient strip or wire coiled into a coil 20 to which a filament or cord 21 is secured. The ratchet member 19 is formed with Patented Apr. '17, 1956 3 a fastening lug 22 which may be molded integral therewith, to which one end of the filament 21 is secured as shown. The end of the spring 20 is anchored to a bentup lug or finger. 23 on the vehicle base.

To prevent excessive stretching of the spring 2b the filament 21 extends completely therethrough and is connected to both ends of the spring. The length of the filament'between the ends of the spring is equal to the maximum stretched length of the spring as shown in Figure 4 so that when the spring is relaxed the filament will'be looped as shown in Figure 2.

According to one feature of the invention the lug 23"isspaced axially from the lug '22 so that the tension spring will lie at an acute angle to the axle 17. The spring'unit therefore tends to shift the ratchet member 19 axially into engagement with the ratchet member '18 with a relatively "light degree of force.

With this construction when the vehicle is moved backward slightly the ratchet teeth will engage and the tension spring .21 will be wound around the ratchet .members asillustrated in Figure 4. The filament 21 will limit extension of the spring to prevent excessive stretching and also to prevent the spring from winding around the ratchet members and .being damaged. When the vehicle is released the tension spring tends to unwind and to turn the wheels forward thereby to drive the vehicle forward. I have foundthat a very small amount of rearward movement, which can easily be accomplished even by a very small child, will wind the tension spring sufficiently to propel the vehicle forward a substantial distance. When the vehicle is released the ratchet members will overrun with only a very small friction drag so that the vehicle will continue to coast forward freely for an appreciable distance. In the event of breakage of the spring member, it'can easily be replaced if desired or the vehiclecan continue'to be used as a free wheeling type of vehicle with no interference from the motive unit.

Instead of using a tension spring as shown in Figures 1 to 4, a coil spring may be used as shown in Figure 5 wherein parts corresponding to like parts in Figures 1 to 4 are indicated by the same reference numerals plus 160. As shown in this figure an elongated resilient strip or wire is coiled into a conventional metal coil spring 124 which is placed loosely around the ratchet member 119 and is anchored at one .end to the ratchet member and at its opposite end to the base 110. The points of connection are selected so that the spring will exert a light axial force urging the ratchet member 119 toward the ratchet member 118.

In this construction when the wheels 113 are turned backwardsthe ratchet members will engage and will wind the coil spring around themselves. The amount of turning'is limited by winding of the coil spring tightly against the ratchet members so that the spring will. not be damaged by excessive tensioning. When the vehicle is released .the coil spring will unwind to drive the Wheels forwardand upon complete unwinding of the spring the vehicle will continue to move forward with the ratchet members overrunning just as in the embodiment of Figures l to 4.

Figures 6 and 7 show still another alternative construcrich .in which parts corresponding to like parts inFigures 1 to 4 areindicated by the same reference numerals plus 200.. In this construction the axle 217 has rigidly pressed or otherwise secured thereon agear member 225 which functions as a ratchet having external teeth. A hollow drum member 226 is rotatably mounted on the axle around the ratchet member 225 and carries a pivoted pawl 227 which is urged toward the ratchet member 225 by aspring 228. An elongated tension spring shown as a rubber band 229 is anchored at one end to the drum 226 and at its opposite end to a lug 231cm the base.

The pawl 227 .is so positioned that when the wheels are. turned backwards it will engage the teeth of the ratchet member225 to turn the drum 226 with the axle.

This will cause the rubber band 229 to be wound around the'drum 226. When the'vehicle is released 'the rubber band will turn the drum and the wheels forward and after the tension is removed from the rubber band the Wheels can continue to turn forward with the ratchet member 225 overrunning the pawl.

Figures 8and 9 illustrate a construction in which all four wheels of the vehicle are driven. In this structure the vehicle comprisesabase310 on which a body 311 issupported either separately or integrally with the base. The base carries front wheels 312 :rigiclly supported on a front axle 314and rear wheels 313 rigidly supported on an axle 316. Each of the axles carries a ratchet member 318 which is rigidly secured to theiaxle-and which may be of the same type as shown in Figures 1 to 4. A second ratchet member 319 is rotatably and slidably mounted on each axle and the pairs of ratchet members are formed with end teeth to engage each other in one direction of rotation of the 'wheelsan'd to release in the opposite'direction of rotation. The ratchet members'are arranged on the front .and rear axles respectively in reversedposition as shown in'Figure 8.

To drive the 'whels a tension spring element which is shown as a rubber band 320, is connected to thetwo ratchet members 319 and extends at an angle to the axles. lnthis way the tension member 320 tends to urge the ratchet members 319 into engagement with the ratchet members 318 inithe same manner as in Figures 1 to 4.

When the vehicle is moved backwards the ratchet members will both engage to wind the tension member 320 simultaneously around them. When the vehicle is released the tension member will drive both axles through the ratchets to move the vehicle forward, and after the spring tension is dissipated the ratchet members will overrun to permit free forward coasting movement of the vehicle. This construction not only drives' the vehicle more effectively because all of the wheels are driven but-also causes the spring to be wound up more rapidly due to' simultaneous winding thereof on both of the ratchet members so that a shorter winding operation is required.

As a supplement to the spring member 320 or in place thereof, a second resilient spring mechanism which will also serve as a positive stop may be provided. This mechanism as shown, comprises an inelastic filament or cord 321 connected at its ends to the ratchet members 319. The central part of the cord is connected to extension spring 321a which is anchored to the upper part of the vehicle body as best seen in Figure 9. With this construction the filament .321 will be wound around the ratchet members when the vehicle is moved rearwardly thereby stretching the spring 321a. When the vehicle is released the spring 321a tends to pull thefilament back to the position shown thereby exerting a turning force .on both axles. This turning force may supplement ormay be usedsolelyin place of the turning force providedby the spring member320. With this construction when the filament is straightened out between the axles it serves as a positive stop to limit further turning of the axles thereby to prevent damage to the spring mechanism.

Figure 10 illustrates a further alternative construction utilizing aspringmember similar to that of Figures .1 to 4 for fourwheel drive and parts in this figure corresponding to like parts in Figures 1 to .4 aredesignated by the same reference numerals plus-400. In this construction,

each of the axles :rigidly carries a ratchet member'4l8 and slidably and rotatably carries a ratchet member 419 in .the same manner as inFigures 8 and 9. The ratchet members.419are:connected to the opposite ends of a filament 421 which extends at an acute angleto the axles 414 .and 417 :so thatit will .urge the 'ratchetmember s 41 9 into .enga'gement'withthe ratchet members 418. A "coil spring'420' has its ends connected to spaced pointsr' inthe central part of the filament, such points beingspa'ced' further than the relaxed length of the spring and a distance equal to the maximum extended length of the spring. When the spring is relaxed as shown in Figure 10, the filament will be looped in the manner indicated.

When the vehicle is moved backwards the ratchets will engageso that the filament will simultaneously be wound on both ratchets. This will cause the spring 420 to stretch until the slack in the filament is completely taken up at which time the filament will serve as a positive stop to prevent further extension of the spring. Upon releasing the vehicle both axles will be driven forward through the ratchets until the spring is again fully contracted after which the ratchets will overrun so that the vehicle can continue to coast.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a reversing mechanism by means of which the vehicle may be driven in either desired direction. As shown, the vehicle is formed with a base 510 carrying a body 511 and supported on front wheels 512 and rear wheels 513. The rear wheels are rigid with an axle 516 which is rotatably supported on the base and which rigidly carries a pair of pinions 531 and 532. The

pinions are adapted to mesh with a driving gear 533 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 534 which projects through an opening in the top of the body as shown.

The shaft 534 is journaled in a bracket 535 which is pivoted on an angular extension 536 on the frame on a rivet 537 whose axis is perpendicular to and spaced from the axle. The shaft 534 is driven through a ratchet mechanism including a ratchet member 538 rigid with the shaft and a ratchet member 539 slidable and rotatable on the shaft. The ratchet member 539 is connected to a filament 541 which is, in turn, connected to a spring 542 in the same manner as the filament 21 and spring 20 of Figure 2. The opposite ends of the spring and filament are connected to an ear 543 on the base which lies below the ratchet member 539 to urge it downward into engagement with the ratchet member 538.

With this construction when the shaft and bracket are swung to the left as seen in Figure 12, the gear 533 will mesh only with the pinion 531 after driving the vehicle forward. With the parts in this position the spring is wound by moving the vehicle backward to wind the filament around the ratchet members and upon release the vehicle will be driven forward in the same manner as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4. If the shaft 534 and bracket are swung to the right as seen in Figure 12 the gear 533 will mesh only with the pinion 532 to drive the vehicle backwards. It will be noted that the shaft can be moved after the spring has been wound so that the vehicle can be driven in either selected direction at any time regardless of the adjustment of the shaft during the winding operation. To prevent loss of the spring tension during shifting the gear and pinions are preferably so proportioned that in its central position the gear 533 will engage both pinions to lock the mechanism. This will prevent accidental unwinding of the spring and further will enable the vehicle to remain at rest with the spring wound when desired.

In the embodiment of Figure 13 the spring 620 is in the form of a double armed leaf spring riveted at its center to the frame 610. The free ends of the spring arms are connected by filaments 621 to ratchet members 619 on the axles 614 and 616 respectively and the spring and filaments preferably lie at such an angle that they will urge the ratchet members 619 axially into engagement with complementary ratchet members on the axles as explained above.

As the wheels are turned backwards to wind the file ments on the ratchet members the spring arms will be bowed toward the dotted line position. The spring arms are of a length such that they will engage the ratchet members when they are fully bent as shown in dotted lines to stop further movement of the wheels thereby to prevent damage to the parts. When the vehicle is released the 6 springs" will move back to their illustrated full line position to drive the vehicle forward in the same manner as in the embodiments described above.

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that they are illustrative only and are not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being bad for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wheeled vehicle having a frame, an axle rotatably mounted on the frame and a wheel carried by the axle, a motive unit comprising a ratchet member mounted on and connected to the axle for rotation therewith, a

second ratchet member mounted on the axle for free rotation coaxial with the first named ratchet member, driving parts on the ratchet members to engage when the ratchet members tend to turn relative to each other in-one direction and release when the ratchet members turn in the opposite direction, a coil spring secured at one end to the frame, spaced from the axle, and an inelastic filament connecting the other end of the coil spring to the second ratchet member, to be wound on the second ratchet member when it is turned by rotation of the wheel in a reverse therewith, a second ratchet member mounted for free rotation coaxial with the first named ratchet member, driving parts on the ratchet members to engage when the ratchet members tend to turn relative to each other in one direction and released when the ratchet members turn in the opposite direction, and a coil spring coaxial with the ratchet members anchored at one end to the frame and at its other end to the second ratchet member and lying around the second ratchet member to be wrapped down into contact therewith when the second ratchet member is turned by the first ratchet member in said one direction, said spring biasing the second ratchet member axially toward the first ratchet member.

3. In a wheeled vehicle having a frame, an axle rotatable on the frame, and wheels secured to the axle, a motive unit comprising a ratchet member rigidly mounted on the axle, a second ratchet member mounted on the axle for free rotation and free axial shifting, teeth on the adjacent ends of the ratchet members to engage when they tend to turn relatively in one direction and to release when they turn relatively in the opposite direction, and a coil spring wound around and anchored at one end to the second ratchet member and anchored at its opposite end to the frame, the spring biasing the second ratchet member axially toward the first named ratchet member.

4. In a wheeled vehicle having a frame, a pair of spaced parallel axles on the frame, and wheels secured to the axles, a motive unit comprising a first ratchet member rigidly mounted on each of the axles, a second ratchet member rotatably mounted on each of the axles, driving parts on the ratchet members to engage when they tend to turn relative to each other in one direction and to release when they turn in the opposite direction, spring means including an elongated resilient strip unit at least a part of which is formed into a coil and which is secured at its ends to the second ratchet members respectively, said ends of the strip unit being wound on the second ratchet members when they are turned by rotation of the wheels in a reverse direction, and means efiective after a predetermined winding of the strip unit on the second 7. ward and into engagement with thel'first ratchet membeizs respectively.

5. The construction. of claim14inwhichthe'springmeans comprises an inelastic filament connected iatits-ends to the second ratchet members; and. a. metalcciled spring; having its -ends connected to. spaced. points in I the central partao'lithefilament.

6. In a wheeled. vehicle .haying a frame-apairof spaced parallel axles on the frame, and wheels secured to the axles, -.a. motive unit comprising a first ratchet member rigidly-mounted oneach of the axles, a second ratchet memberrotatably mountedv on. each of the. axles, driving parts on the. ratchet members .to tengagetwhen. they tend to .-turn relative toeach other inonendircctionand torelease whenth'ey turn in the. opposite direction, an :inela-stic filament connected .at itsends tot-the second ratchet members respectively to be wound ,thereon when the second ratchet members are turned by rotation of the wheels in a-reverse direction, and .a spring resiliently urging the center part of the filament laterally of its length the spring .andfilament acting on {the secondratchet members to urge them resiliently towardand into engagement with the first ratchet members respectively.

7... In a wheeled vehicle having a frame, an axle .ro.tat-- ably mounted on the frame, and-a wheel carried by the axle, a motive unit. comprising a firstratchet member mounted on, and connected to the .axle for rotation therewith, a second ratchet member .mountedon-the .axlefor free rotation thereon and for axial sliding. toward and away from the first. ratchet .member, .drivingpartson the ratchet. members to engagev when .the ratchet members to release. when the ratchet members-turn in the-QBP direction, spring. means including an elongated resilient:-

strip unit at least a part of which is formed. into-a coil and. which, is secured at-one end to the second ratchet member andat its other end to the frameat an-anchor point spaced from the axle, said one end of the strip unit being wound, on thesecondratchet member when it isaturned byrotation-tof the wheel in .a. reverse direction, and rneal'ls.eiiecs tiye, after.- .a predetermined winding of the .stripunjron thev second ratchet member to prevent further resilient distortion of .the strip unit thereby to limit rotation...of. the. second ratchet member in said one direction, the. spring means acting on the second ratchet member-to urge it. resiliently toward and into engagement with the first ratchet member.

3. The construction of claim 7 in which the .last named means comprises an inelastic filament. .-.conn,ec.ted. atone end to: the second, ratchet member and. at its other, nd

to a, point on the frame and which winds on the secondv ratchet member as it turns.

References Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jenkins 'Mar. 27, i951 

